AutopiaTech
Moderator
Once again I was talked in to working on a co-worker's vehicle. And once again it's that darn black school bus with the Ford logo on it. I just can't get away from this thing can I? For whatever reason my friends, family, and co-workers are under the impression that I'm some avid automotive enthusiast. Well, it's kind of true. Maybe the stacks of Motortrend and Car & Driver magazines on my desk gives it away. Who knows, but with the entire Autopia Store at my disposal, I never pass up the opportunity to test products and write articles about them.
It's been a little over a month since Autopia acquired Blackfire, and at every opportunity available I test a Blackfire product. Take a peek below, and you will see why I grabbed a bottle of the Blackfire SRC Compound and SRC Finishing Polish. Both of which were designed for the newest scratch resistant clear coats found on most newer vehicles.
What you see below is what happens if you run a vehicle through an automated car wash three times a week for two years. It's like eating an entire cheesecake three times a week for two years. The end result is, you're not going to be turning heads any longer. Luckily, the vehicle is in good hands now.
As much as I enjoy using my trusty Porter Cable 7424xp for its ease of use and dependability, I decided to grab the smooth-as-butter, tough as nails, lean mean paint correction machine known as the Flex XC3401 VRG. No exaggeration, it's that good. If you've ever plugged one in, let alone used one, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
I started off with the Blackfire SRC Compound. It was applied using a 6.5" Lake Country CCS Orange Light Cutting pad. Whenever I'm performing any type of correction work, I often grab this type of pad because of the CCS (closed cell structure) pockets found on the pads. These are pockets of closed foam, where products are less apt to soak into the foam. This reduces product waste and also allows the pad to run cooler.
I started off by priming the pad and then applying four dime sized drops.
The compound was spread out first at a lower speed and then I cranked up the Flex XC3401 to speed 6 and locked it in place with the trigger lock. It's similar to setting the cruise control on a Bentley Continental GTC, meaning it's smooth sailing from here on out. :drool:
What really surprised me was how long of a working time Blackfire SRC Compound has. For a compound, there was virtually no dusting either.
To ensure desired results, meaning flawless butter smooth paint, it's critical to clean your pad often. I use the Foam Pad Conditioning Brush because it's easy to use, comfortable to hold, and with the stiff nylon bristles, will effectively break up caked on compound and polish residue.
Ready for round two!
Can you tell which side has been polished using Blackfire SRC Compound?
